The Mischievous Side of Chill Moody

The West Philly rapper likes to have fun, especially when he’s guest bartending.
By G.W. Miller III

Listen to Chill Moody’s lyrics and you can’t help but feel excited, optimistic and, well, inspired (which is actually the name of one of his songs).

The rising young rapper from West Philadelphia broadcasts a positive message in a smooth flow, his rhymes building upon the ideas that you can achieve anything if you try, and that we all should be saying nice things to and about each other.

So when Chill started being critical of music a few years ago, his friends thought it was out of character.

“People had a hard time separating rapper me from me being a fan of music,” says the 28-year-old graduate of Overbrook High School and Millersville University who sold out the Theatre of Living Arts in December.

One night, while he was having drinks with friends at PYT in Northern Liberties, he decided that his more mischievous side needed an outlet. Chill, who is the epitome of a social networker, created the Twitter handle @DrunkChill.

“Instead of watching my mouth all the time, I can say whatever I want,” he says with a laugh.

It’s pretty tame by modern standards, especially in comparison to what some rappers present online. The always humble Chill comes off as a guy having fun with his friends, often at his West Philly home, dubbed Moody’s Klubbhouse, where he keeps a fully-stocked bar.

One of his friends, DJ Ricochet, spins music at Mikey’s American Grill & Sports Bar on Chestnut Street in University City every Friday night during the summer. Chill guest bartends some Fridays, doubling business because his social media followers show up in droves, Ricochet says. But Chill is not a bartender.

“If you ask me for something special, I’m just going to pour you a straight shot,” Chill recalls telling customers.

“He knows what he likes to drink and that’s what he serves,” says Ricochet, who adds that Chill often does shots along with the patrons.

After performing in bars and clubs all around the city and region, Chill has become a connoisseur of beers. His favorite is the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes Brewing Company. Tröegs Mad Elf Ale is a staple at the Klubbhouse when it’s in season. And the bartenders at Milkboy in Center City are always introducing Chill to new brews, he says.

His drink of choice, however, is Jameson Irish Whiskey. His producers Joe Logic and Wes Manchild turned him on to the single pot still whiskey about two years ago.

“It complements the beers I like really well,” Chill says.

Last summer, he launched a companion @DrunkChill Instagram feed. Still, you won’t find him and his crew getting too wild.

“At the end of the day,” he admits, “my mom checks all my Instagrams and Twitters.”

Chill dropped his first full album in January and he’s been steadily releasing videos, one of which garnered airtime on MTV. His next step, he says, is to branch out of Philadelphia and build his audience elsewhere. And he’ll be guest bartending at Mikey’s throughout the summer.